Elementera Insanity

I'm not sure if I like the title or not...

A Child’s Voice

I shall not lie down and become your idol,
to bear the burden of your hopes and dreams.
I shall not lie down and become your vessel,
To be filled up with your fears and screams.

I am my own persona,
no golem of blood and bone.
I shall not walk in your footprints,
I must blaze a path of my own.

I do not ask you to lead me forward,
show me how to walk with purpose instead.
I ask you not to feed my soul or sense of self,
Rather teach me the means to keep both fed.

This is no easy task I ask of you,
to be a guide but not to lead.
I ask only that you walk at my side,
support, not relief, is what I need.

You are my source, my font, my home,
Yet what I build must be my own.
Teach and guide and share and love,
Have faith in me and what you’ve sown.

Anthropology teaches us that the limits of human knowledge and learning are actually increased by learning from the experiences and examples of others. 

Educational models and statistics show that the majority of us learn faster in true collaborative situations where learning comes in the form of give and take.

Playing games can teach us a variety of things, dependant on the type of game.  Anything from social interaction to logic and problem solving can be learned through the course of playing.

This brings me to World of Warcraft, which is by nature and design a collaborative game wherein players have the option of learning from the experiences and examples of others or exploring and learning on their own.   Within the game, specifically "End Game Content", players who have learned to play at least one defined role are thrust into a collaborative setting (ie. the raid) with at least one common goal (defeat the boss and get da' lootz!).  The players must then take their individual experiences and while playing with one another, learn how their fellow players in their specific roles can contribute to the end goal and how this all mixes.  Groups that do this with a certain degree of success reach their common goal and receive their reward(s).  Those who aren't able to do this wipe.  Regardless of the results, each individual can now take what they have just learned through their success or their failure and then apply it both to themselves and to the roles taken by the other players. 

Within the bounds of the game, the players learn and have fun doing it (players who don't have fun, don't remain players).  So my question is, what is it about this process that makes these people so willing to learn and how the hell do I apply that to modern education?

There's something there, I can almost taste it... Kids today simply don’t learn in the same manner that even my generation did.   There’s more then the fact that they’re having fun.  I’ve been on some incredibly un-enjoyable raids but I learned things about the game (subject matter) that was relevant to my role and goals.  This made my experience in the long run more rewarding, just like education should be.  So… what is it?

 

If you can't tell from the title I'm in an odd mood.  I get these once in a while, most notably when I'm happy, sometimes when I'm sad, but always when I've heard the siren call of inspiration.  I've spent a lot of time in the last few years feeling broken and without a clear focus in my life. I'm sure some of you have noticed it.  I've started projects, let them fall by the way side, pick up the next new shiny and repeat the process.  I'm sorry if that's made people angry, hurt, or felt ignored, that was never ever the intent.

( Would You Like to Know More? )

So.. erm... I hate trying to figure out how to end posts like these.  Its like we expect ourselves to post this profound moral summary about what we just posted.  I don't have one and honestly, I don't think I need one....

>.o

umm... this was posted on a website I frequent and I found it kinda funny.

Seeing as we're about half way through the holiday season (yes I know some of you had to go back to work yesterday...shhhsh. ;) ) I figured I'd post how mine has been so far.  If I was to describe it with only two words, they would be "Unforgettable" and "Amazing".  It's been a very long two (I think) years since the disastrous Holiday Season that witnessed the beginning of the end of my marriage.  Except for the time spent with my family, both my blood and my like-blood,  joy has felt like it was in short supply over the Holidays these last few years.

That's changed.  The Solstice was awesome and convinced me that I'm right where I should be.  Although I wish that I had been able to spend my birthday with everyone who loves me, the day spent with angelsorayama and her Nephilim was everything I had hoped for and more.  My family, again both blood and like-blood, also gave me a great gift on my birthday as well.  They gave me the gift of freedom to be with angel and her nephilim and didn't allow me to feel guilty about not being with them as well.  tall_man , finaira ,king_of_light , and ladylakira  thank you for understanding and I'm sorry I missed our Solstice Dinner.  celticcrone , you and Dad have always been so supportive.  Thank you.

Yule/ Christmas was likewise wonderful.  From setting up the little tree in my apartment with angelsorayama on Christmas Eve, to watching the Nephilim opening their gifts and spending the morning with them and their Mom, to the afternoon and dinner with my family and angel and the nephilim.  The laughter, the joy, it felt so good to feel that again at all times this Season, not just when I'm with those special people.

Hey, it's sappy but so very true.

This is a bit of fic that I wrote for a Changling: The Lost game that I play in called 54 Reasons.  My character is a Draconic Fairest, who was a Gladiator of sorts in Arcadia and a Nercotics Officer before he was taken.  It's about 7 pages long... fair warning.

I've been re-introduced to Neil Gaiman (thanks to angelsorayama and arabidmouse ) having already read his collaborate work with Terry Pratchette, Good Omens and having seen Stardust.  I've read American Gods and Neverwhere and enjoyed both books now (Ananasi Boys and the Illustrated Stardust are both waiting in the wings).

( Some Spoilers and Opinions )

Neil Gaiman is obviously a wonderful writer who seems to effortlessly turn a phrase and inspire others with his imagination.  He's a font of bubbling creativity who's only real fault as a writer that I can see is that he gives us so much he can't help but leave some things unfinished at the end of his books due to the massive quantity of interesting and wondrous characters, settings, and teasers he injects into his storytelling. 

If there would be one thing I would ask of him as a reader to an author would be that if he hasn't already (and is sitting on the manuscript) that he finish the tale he started for Richard in Neverwhere. As I mentioned earlier, American Gods ended in a satisfactory way leaving only a little bit of a feeling that there was more to tell there.

As an author Neil Gaiman has matured and fulfilled the promise that was so obvious in Neverwhere.  I'm going to look forward to reading more of his books.

One of the wonderful things about having to bus to St. Albert is that you have a large amount of time to sit and think. Today has been no exception.

This morning I was thinking about music and how how it affects us and how it represents us culturally and as individuals.

There is, if one chooses to hear it, a story in every vocal and instrumental piece that speaks to us. Sometimes the meaning is lost in allegory and metaphor, other times it's clearly presented but regardless, it's there.

I find myself wondering if music was the ancestor of language or it's inheritor. Did proto-man lift his head first in song to communicate his wants, needs, and desires? Did the sounding of crude drums call them to war or to meetings?

I guess we'll never really know for sure but the beat of drums stirs something deep and the sound of a human voice raised up bearing emotion can invoke powerful reactions as well.

Just something to think on I guess.

Hey Technophiles,

I just converted this for work.... but here's the original

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/rives_tells_a_story_of_mixed_emoticons.html

I'm up and running again.  Just in time for lunch. Almost everything is unpacked and set up. ;)

So on that note:

Thank you to Pat for the use of his truck and for moving me.  Also thank you to Crash, Linette, Levi, Laura, Owen, and Johnny for the use of their arms and backs, their organizational skills, and good humor.

I really appreciate it. :)

So tomorrow I move.  Yay for moving! 

Those of you who are willing to help and can get to my parent's place (1 sorrel crescent, st.albert) please be there for 10:30. I will just be getting back with the key to the elevator.  I'm hoping that we'll only have to do one trip *crosses fingers* but we might need to do two depending on the number of additional vehicles that'll be here.

As soon as we're done packing up the vehicles, it's off to the new Apartment (Oak Tower - 11635 102 Ave).  If all goes well we should be there around 11:30.

Thank you everyone who's coming out to help.  I really, really appreciate it. :)

Tall_Man, I'm not going to be able to make it to the game tonight. It's 20 to 8 and I still have about 3 hours of stuff to do at home.  Sorry about that.

If anyone has any problems, please give me a call on my cell. 780-238-2522.  My apartment number is 504.

Again, thank you everyone!

Also, I won't have internet until Monday morning but I will turn on my phone msn.

Or for those of you who don't speak Gaelic...  "Happy Samhain!"

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*The file wants to open in Windows Media Player...

That's right... I'm part of the future... working in one of the jobs that didn't exist until after 2004 and the only at the post-secondary level.  I'm the first of my kind (at least in alberta) at the High School Level.

The world is changing... and I'll be damned if it doesn't excite me....



Bring it...

So yeah, I r movin' to my own apartment on Sunday Nov 2. I'm moving to Oak Towers on 116st and 102 Ave, about one block North & West from the Druid Pub. Now, I know I'm moved a lot in the last few years but if anyone would be willing and able to help me move that would be terribly awesome. Being that I didn't take very much with me with Amanda and I split I don't have all that much to move.

I'm going to try and move my Bed and Dresser (still in boxes) and a few other things on Nov 1st in the afternoon once I pick up my Keys. So the move itself really should take too long. I'll be scheduling the elevator tomorrow when I sign my lease so I'll know what time the move will happen on the 2nd then.

After the move is finished I plan to provide foodstuff and refreshments for anyone who would like to give me a hand. ;)

So if you can give me a hand.. I would love you forevah and feed you (om nom nom) o.0

Well... I'm about ready to head off to Red Deer for the conference and staff retreat. I'll be gone likely until Sat Afternoon but probably won't be much for anything except hanging out and relaxing Sat night. I'll have internet access (apparently) while I'm there so I'll be online off and on. Take care all and have a good Thurs - Sat.

Seems celtic influence is everywhere if you just open your eyes...

Thanks for the Link Angel.

Everyone has stress in their life, has to wrestle their own deamons, and in the end has to find a way to make peace with the turmoil that comes with being a living, breathing, feeling entity. Some have a relatively easy time with it, other battle constantly with it, but most of us go through cycles of calm and cycles of storm.

To be honest I'm not sure what's worse but I can tell you something... when you hit the wall it seems to me that you've got two choices. Break through to the other side or shatter to pieces from the impact. Both results suck in my opinion. It would be better to avoid that wall in the first place but I guess sometimes we're simply not smart enough, or have enough foresight to see it coming.

In your place I'd be sitting here thinking. "That's very philosophical, so what's it mean?" Well, it means I've hit the wall full force. With everything that's been going on in my life in the last two months I've reached my breaking point. I've had enough. I'm worn down, spread too thin, tired, and heartsick. I'm trying to deal with the high and exacting demands of my job, the continuing illness and medical issues of a woman that I love and the resulting fall out, my own personal frustrations (of which I'm not getting into), and a sense of loss I can't exactly explain.

I'm not looking to cause drama. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. While this is a call for attention it's a notice, not a plea. It's me letting off pressure and taking stock of my situation not a rally cry for friends and associates to take care of my issues for me. It's an explanation to the people I love and to those I know.

Sometimes I'm far better with the written word then I am the spoken.

I'm not opening up this post to discussion. If people want to talk to me there are other, better mediums to discuss this over. Until then...

Artist: Within Temptation
Album: The Heart of Everything
Song: The cross

Nothing´s ever changed, you still turn away
You´ve washed your hands, you´ve made that all too clear
You just keep on living this lie

You refuse to see, you´re denying me
the cross I bear but you don´t seem to care
Even Judas knew he had lied

I keep wondering why
I´m still calling your name through my tears

Why have you waited to embrace me my dear?
Cold is your silence, denying what is real
I´m still wondering why
I´m still calling your name my dear

I´m sorry if you can´t stand the naked truth
All you see is how you want it to be
So you keep on living your life

Release me from this cross after all these years
Oh call my name and help me with this weight
Even though it comes far too late

I keep wondering why
I´m still calling your name through my tears

Why have you waited to embrace me my dear
Cold is your silence, denying what is real
I´m still wondering why I´m still calling your name
and I wonder, oh I wonder...

In my heart I still hope you will open the door
You can purify it all, answer my call

Why? Why?

Why have you waited to embrace me my dear?
Cold is your silence, denying what is real
I´m still wondering why I´m still calling your name
and I wonder, oh I wonder...

In my heart I still hope you will open the door
You can purify it all, answer my call

I used to do these all the time and for some reason I stopped. I haven't the slightest idea why I stopped but I'm going to start doing this again.

The first week of the new school year. Talk about crazy. Students needing help, teachers needing help, parents needing help, everyone needing help with one thing or another. It's enough to drive a person around the bend and back again. I do have to admit, I'm enjoying the job and the challenge it offers. I just have to start looking at educational possibilities in the future (maybe next year).

I've been taking a bit of a break from everything that didn't actively require my attention and reduced my involvement in those things that did. It's been a good thing, time to heal and time to reflect. To those whose feelings have been hurt by my lack of involvement or my absence lately, please understand that it isn't about you. It's about me and my own needs and ways. Please don't take offense.

Hmmm.. on that note, I'll be attending Tai Chi classes Mondays and Wednesdays here in St. Albert. I'm actually really excited about this. I need both exercise and a stress/tension release and from what I've read, Tai Chi is a great way to do both.

Other then that, my plans for the week are pretty quiet up until Sat. This coming Saturday I plan to go the Celtic Festival in Edmonton. I've already invited a number of people, and anyone who wants to go is free to come but you'll have to get your own tickets.

That's pretty much it for now.

http://www.celticfestivaledmonton.com/

I think that this is going to be a really good Time, and as such, I'm thinking about going. Celtic music, beer, dancing... how could one say no?

Anyone else interested?